Means for securing bridges of timekeeping mechanism



H. COLOMB. MEANS FOR SECURING BRIDGES 0F TIMEKEEPING MECH ANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, I921. [1,434,321 Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

I3 IO "V V V Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

UNITED STATES HENRY comma, or TAVANNES, SWITZERLAND.

MEANS FOR SECURING BRIDGES '01 TIMEKEEPING MECHANISM.

Application filed September 28, 1921.

T 0 all w from it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY CoLoMB, a citizen of the Swiss Republic, residing at Tavannes, Canton of Berne, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Securing Bridges of Timekeeping Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of time keeping mechanism, particularly watches, and has for its object an improved mounting for the bridges for the escapement mechanism and the like.

In the usual construction, the shaft carrying the escape pinion and the escape wheel extends through the plate, with the pinion on one side thereof in engagement with the last wheel of the gear train of the time keeping mechanism, and the escape wheel on the other side of the plate working with the anchor. This necessitates two bridges, one on each side of the plate, and since these bridges are customarily held in place by screws tapped into the plate, the plate is weakened, and the six holes usually required render precision difficult to attain.

One object of my invention is to provide a mounting for the bridges which will reduce the number of holes that are required through the plate. Further objects are to provide means for accurately positioning and securing the bridges in place.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein described and claimed, and a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- The figure shows a section taken approximately on the center line of the escapement frame.

Referring to these drawings, 1 designates the usual plate, upon which are mounted the bridges 2, 3, for the support of the escape pinion 4, escape wheel 6, and shaft 5 upon which these are mounted, the shaft 5 passing through the opening 7 in the plate. The anchor 8 may be carried by a suitable shaft- 9 mounted between the plate 1 and the bridge 2, and disposed for cooperation with the escape wheel 6.

The mounting of the bridges 2, 3 is effected by means of two or more pillars 10, having at each end a reduced portion or tenon, the tenon 11 being adapted to fit snugly a hole 12 in the plate 1, and extend Serial No. 503,996.

through said plate to enter and fit snugly a hole 13 in the bridge 2, the tenon 11 proecting only part way into the bridge 2, and the bridge being held securely upon the plate and tenon by means such as the tap bolt 14 which likewise serves to hold the pillar fixed in the plate. The tenon 15 at the other end of the pillar 10 is adapted to fit snugly the hole 16 of the bridge 3, extending only part way through, so that the tap bolt 17 holds the bridge 3 snugly upon the pillar 10, the distance of the bridge 3 from the plate 1 being determined by the distance between the shoulders forming the tenons 11, 15.

In connection with the foregoing it is to be observed that the plate 1 and bridge 2 are provided with spacing bosses on their adjacent faces about the openings 12 and 13 to space said parts and thereby provide means for the mounting of the wheel 6.

Having now described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In time keeping mechanisms, in combination. a plate having openings therethrough, bridges for the escapement mech anism and the like on opposite sides of the plate, one of the bridges being spaced from the plate, and means for securing the bridges to the plate comprising pillars having tenons formed at each end for cooperation with certain openings in the plate and bridges, and means for clamping the bridges to said tenons.

2. In time keeping mechanisms in combination, a plate having openings therethrough, bridges for the escapement mechanism and the like on opposite sides of the plate, one of the bridges being spaced from the plate, and means for securing the bridges to the plate, comprising pillars having a tenon at each end, the tenon at one end being adapted to support a bridge, means for holding the bridge thereon, the tenon at the other end being engaged through one of the openings in the plate for the support of the pillar. said. latter tenonextending through said plate to engage the second bridge, and means for holding said second bridge on said pillar and thereby securing said pillar to the plate.

3. In time keeping mechanisms in combination, a plate having openings therethrough, bridges for the esca 'iement mechanism and the like arranged on opposite sides of the plate, one of the bridges being spaced from the plate means for securing the bridges to the plate, comprising pillars havgage the second bridge, and a bolt tapped ing a tenon at each end, the tenon at one end into said tenon for holding said second 10 being adapted to support a bridge, a bolt bridge on said pillar and thereby securing tapped into said tenon for holding the bridge said pillar to the plate.

thereon, the tenon at the other end being In testimony whereof I have signed my engaged through one of the openings in the name to this specification.

plate for the support of the pillar, said latter tenon extending through said plate to en- HENRY COLOMB. 

